Built-up cylinder block for internal combustion engines



W. E. BRILL Sept. 13, 1938.

BUILT-UP CYLINDER BLOCK FORINTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed July l2, 1937 A2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 13, 1938.

w. E. B RILL l ABUILT-UP CYLINDER BLOCK FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION. ENGINE Filed July 12, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES 'PATENT oFFlCE BUILT-UP CYLINDER COMBUSTIQN ENGINE BLOCK FORINTERNAL'- Application July 12,

6 Claims.

My invention relates to. built-up cylinder blocks for multiple cylinder internal combustion engines comprising a plurality of parts, such as at metallic plates and parts of special shapes, which 5 are welded together to provide a unitary single piece cylinder block; and the principal object of my invention is to provide a cylinder block of the type aforesaid whichis of simpler construction and the parts of which may be assembled and l welded with greater facility and at less expense, than has heretofore commonlyL been the case. A further object of `my inventionis to provide certain improvements in and relating to the manner in which the bearings for the crankshaft of the engine are secured in place within the cylinder block, whereby the bearings are more readily accessible for replacement and repair than heretofore.

The drawings herewith submitted illustrate my invention as applied to a multiple cylinder engine wherein the cylinders are in line, with their axes parallel, and the particular featureswherein my invention consists are particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a View partly in side elevation as seen from a position to the left of Figure 2, and

partly in section `upon a vertical longitudinally extending central plane, of a multiple cylinder engine block made in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a view showing a section upon a plane at right angles to the axis of the crankshaft and passing through one of the cylinders of 5 the engine, one of the mainV crankshaft-bearings being shown in this view. l

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View upon a plane .parallel to the plane of Figure 2, and which shows a supporting member or f oot forging of 'my invention more in detail than in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view showing such supporting member in perspective.

Figure 5 is a view showing a section upon a transverse plane indicated by the line 5 5; Figure 4( Figure 6 Yis a view showing a detail of my invention.

Referring rst to the drawings, the numerals I designate two oppositely arranged side plates which extend longitudinally of and throughout the length of the engine, and the upper edges of -which are welded as along joints ii to an upper deck plate I2 which likewise extends throughout the length of the engine and supports the head structure and valves not shown, and which head 1931, serial No. 153,102 (ci. 12a-195) is secured to the upper deck plate by stud bolts in accordance with conventional practice. The plate I2 may be a steel casing or it may be formed by rolling as I-beams and similar structural elements are commonly formed. The numeral I3 designates a lower longitudinal extending deck plate likewise welded to the side plates along long'itudlnally extending joints I4; and the two deck plates have openings for the upper and lower ends of the usual cylinder liners I whereby a cooling liquid space I6 for all the liners is provided, the side boundaries of said space beng provided by the side plates I0 as will be appreciated. The ends of the side plates I0 and of the upper and lower deck plates I2, I3 are welded along joints I1 to end plates I8 which close the ends of the cooling liquid space I6; and internal transversely extending strengthening plates I9 the peripheries of which are welded to the side plates l0 and to the upper and lower deck plates I2, I3, are commonly used to strengthen the cylinder blocks.

The numerals'ZIJ designate two oppositely arranged longitudinally extending plates at the lower end of the cylinder block and' which together! provide the base or supportv therefor; these being -spaced apart far enough to provide ysuicient room for the cranks of the crankshaft to rotate as will be understood. These are straight members, vand may likewise be formed by rolling methods. The lower ends of the end plates I8 Vare welded to the ends of the base plates as indicated by the numeral 2| in Figure 1. The camshaft housing 22 extends above the upper deck I2 and longitudinally of the cylinder block. and is welded thereto so that the whole block forms in effect a. single unitary structure, but the structural features of the camshaft housing form no' part of the invention to which this present application relates. cylinder block is closed by an oil pan 23, and the engine may be secured to a suitable foundation by bolts passing through the base plates 2D and flanges at the upper end of the oil pan, or otherwise, as is usual in marine engine installations.

Extending between the lower edges ofthe side plates I0 and the base plates 20 are a series of oppositely arranged supporting members 25 which I call foot forgings and which are preferably made by the use of dies and by a drop forging method, 'although they may be steel castings. These members are arranged in pairs one at either side of each main crankshaft bearing, and they are welded in place in the cylinder block so as to be in effect integral therewith. Thus the The lower uend of the upper ends of these members are shaped to cooperate with seats provided in the lower edges of the plates I0 and are welded in place along joints between the two at 26, vand their lower ends or base portions 21 are welded to the base plates 20; the inner edges of the base plates, as indicatd at 28 having projections 29, Figure 6; to facilitate the welding of the base portions to said base plates.

The seats provided in the lower edges of the side plates I0 for receiving like-shapedr parts of the upper ends of the supporting members 25 whereby said members are held in definite and proper positions before and during the welding operation, may be of any suitable shape or outline, as their form is not material so long as the positioning of the upper ends of the supporting members 25 is secured.

Transversely arranged plates 29" are commonly provided between each pair of supporting members 25 to strengthen the cylinder block and the peripheries of these plates are Welded to .the insides `of said supporting members and `to the under side of the lower deck plate I3. The lower parts of the supporting members 25 are preferably of webbed formation as indicated by the cross-sectional view, Figure 5.

The numerals 30, 3| and 32 are housing plates extending longitudinally of the cylinder block and welded thereto and to the camshaft housing 22 to thereby provide an integral cylinder block. These to a degree strengthen the block as a whole, although they are non-essential features of the invention to which this present application relates.

The bearings for'the crankshaft journals are located one between the lower base portions 21 of each pair of supporting members 25, and they are supported by and beneath said base portions; each pair of supporting members serving to support a main crankshaft bearing and one pair being associated with each of the several bear-v ings necessary to support the crankshaft of a multiple cylinder engine. Thus and referring to Figure 2 which illustrates one pair of supporting members and a main crankshaft bearing supported by and between them, the numeral 313 designates a yoke-shaped bearing supporting member which is itself supported beneath the base parts 21 by bolts 34 extending upwardly therethrough, and through holes in 'said bases, dowels.r 35 being provided for insuring that said member 33 shall be'properly positioned relative to the bases and that the Aseveral crankshaft bearings shall be kept in proper alignment.

The numeral 36 designates an upper main bearing cap, and said'cap and said support 33 have semi-cylindrical seats which together provide a cylindrical seat for supporting `a main bearing liner or brass within which a journal of the crankshaft (not shown) rotates, as is usual in crankshaft bearings. This vcap is held in place by stud bolts 31 carried by the lower supporting member 33 and extending upward through said cap, as shown; and the ends of said upper cap engage the inner ends of the bases 21, as at 38, thus preventing sidewlse movement of the cap. The bases 21 being welded to the side plates 20 form in effect integral parts thereof, and the"` bearing supporting members 33 being of massive construction and ribbed to provide increased stiffness, it follows that the supporting members in addition to supporting the main crankshaft bearings serve also as a plurality of ties or struts extending between and whereby the side plates' 20 are connected together, thus greatly strengthening the lower part or base of the cylinder block. The bearing features above referred to are present at each of the main crankshaft bearings as will be understood.

In view of the premises it follows that force due to gas pressure within the engine cylinders and acting upwardly upon the cylinder head, and force transmitted to the crankshaft bearings and base plates and acting downward, are resisted by the supporting members 25 and the side plates l0 which parts are subjectedto tension by said forces when the engine is in operation.4 The base plates, the supporting members, the side plates and the upper deck plate I2 being welded together into a single cylinder block structure, Ait follows that no tie rods or bolts for securing the head to the base of the engine are employed. The welded joints between the parts enumerated provide a much stronger tension structure comprising the base plates, the supporting members. the side plates and the upper deck plate than would be provided by such tie rods, and the crosssectional area of parts subjected to tension is many times that which would be provided by tie rods, whereby a cylinder block of great strength is secured.

In an engine having a unitary cylinder block built up as hereinbefore explained, the only parts subjected to tension which are not welded into the rest of the block as unitary parts thereof, are the supporting yoke members 33 for the crankshaft bearings and the bolts 34 whereby said yokes are supported from the base parts 21 of the supporting members 25. The yokes have a margin of safety sufllcient for the service required of them and they will seldom need to be replaced, and the bolts 34 will as a matter of course be so designed as to resist the tension to which they are subjected when the engine is in use. As a matter of prudence, however, and of abundant precaution because the bolts are subjected to repeated tension stresses which are 1ocalized in and tend to weaken them, it is customary to replace the bolts after the engine has been in use long enough to cause apprehension as to their margin of safety under the stresses to which they are subjected; which replacement may i be conveniently accomplished as the bolts may be readily removed and replaced by new bolts without disassembling or otherwise disturbing the crankshaft bearings; because in thus removing Vfand replacing the supporting bolts the relation of the yoke members 33 to the base parts 21 is maintained by the dowels 35 so that removal and replacement of the bolts does not disturb the proper relationship of the yokes to the bases 21, nor necessitate their readjustment as steps incident to removal and replacement of the bolts. Access to the bolts 34 and to the bearings when their liners need replacing is afforded by hand holes in housing plates 30, 3| as will be understood.

Having thus described and explained my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a cylinder block gines, upper and lower deck plates extending longitudinally and throughout the length of the cylinder block and having openings for the ends of cylinder liners; two side plates extending longitudinally and throughout Ythe length of the cylinder block; base plates spaced apart from one another and extending longitudinally and throughout thelength of! the' cylinder block; and

for multiple cylinder enaiaaeoe a plurality of pairs of oppositely arranged supporting members extending between the lower edges of said side plates and said base plates, all of said parts being welded together to thereby form a unitary cylinder block.

2. In a cylinder block for multiple cylinder engines, upper and lower deck plates extending longitudinally and throughout the length of the cylinder block and having openings for the ends of cylinder liners; two side plates extending 1ongitudinally and throughout the length of the cylinder block; base plates spaced apart from one another and extending longitudinally and throughout the length of the cylinder block; a plurality of pairs of oppositely arranged supporting members extending between the lower edges of said side plates and said base plates and all of which parts are welded together to thereby form a unitary cylinder block; and a plurality of crankshaft bearings supported by and located one .between the lower ends of each pair of supporting members.

3. In a unitary cylinder block for multiple cylinder engines, upper and lower deck plates extending longitudinally and throughout the length of the cylinder block and having openings for the ends of cylinder liners; two oppositely arranged side plates extending longitudinally and throughout the length of the cylinder block, and which side plates and deck plates are welded together; two oppositely arranged base plates extending longitudinally and throughout the length of the cylinder block; and a plurality of pairs of oppositely arranged supporting members having upper ends which are welded to the lower edges of said side plates, and lower base portions which are welded to said base plates.

4. In a unitary cylinder block for multiple cylinder engines, upper and lower deck plates extending longitudinally and throughout the length of the cylinder block and having openings for the ends of cylinder liners; two oppositely arranged side plates extending longitudinally and .throughout the length of the cylinder block, and

which side plates and deck plates are welded together; two oppositely arranged base plates extending longitudinally and throughout the length of the cylinder block; a plurality of pairs oi' oppositely arranged supporting members having upper ends which are welded to the lower edges of said side plates, and lower base portions which are welded to said base plates; and a plurality of crankshaft bearings supported by and located one between the base portions of each pair of supporting members.

5. In a unitary cylinder block for multiple cylinder engines, upper and lower deck plates extending longitudinally and throughoutthe length of the cylinder block and having openings lor the ends of cylinder liners; two oppositely arranged side plates extending longitudinally and throughout the length of the cylinder block, and which side plates and deck plates are welded together; two oppositely arranged base plates extending longitudinally and throughout the length of thecylinder block; a plurality oi pairs of oppositely arranged supporting members having upper ends which are welded to the lower edges of said side plates, and lower base portions which are welded to said base plates; a plurality of crankshaft bearings located one between the base portions o! each pair of supporting members; and means whereby said bearings are supported from and beneath the base portions of said pairs of supporting members.

6. In a unitary cylinder block for multiple cylinder engines, upper and lower deck plates extending longitudinally and throughout the length of the cylinder block and having openings for the ends of cylinder liners; two oppositely arranged side plates extending longitudinally arfd throughout the length of the cylinder block, and which side plates and deck plates are welded together; two oppositely arranged base plates extending longitudinally and throughout the length of the cylinder block; a plurality of pairs of oppositely arranged supporting members having upper ends which are welded to the lower edges of said side plates, and lower base portions which are welded to the inner edges of said base plates; a' plurality of bearing supporting yokes one for each crankshaft bearing; and bolts extending through the lower base portions of. each pair of oppositely arranged supporting members, and through said supporting yokes, for supporting said yokes from and beneath said base portions.

WILLIAM E. BRII'JIJ.l 

